Cup-dispensing machine



J. D. REIFSNYDER CUP DISPENSING MACHINE Feb. 26, 1929.

Filed Dec. 22, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //////lll Momma, Jam

Feb. 26, 1929.

J. DQREIFSNYDER CUP DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES D. REIFSNYDER, OI WEEHAWKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB, BY MES NE ASSIGN- IENTS, TO TULIP CUP CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CUP-DISPENSING MACHINE.

Application filed December 22, 1920. Serial No. 482,377.

My invention relates to cup dispensing machines, and more particularly to machines of this character adapted to contain a stack of nested paper cups and to dispense them one at a time. I

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable machine having mechanically operated means for forcibly detaching the cups from the stack and ejecting or dispensing them one at a time, al-' though certain features of the machine forming a part of the invention may be utilized in other types of cup-dispensing machines.

The invention consists in the novel fea- 1 him, arrangement and construction of the parts hereinafter described according to the present referred embodiment of the invention, an the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the fol- .lowing description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings illustrating by way of example the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the preferred form of the invention and having certain parts removed; 7

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view'similar to Fig. 1 with the operative parts in a different position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the operative parts in the position assumedto dispense a cup.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a metal housing having ears 2 for securing it to' the wall in vertical position. 3 isa glass tube fitting into a vertical annular flange 4 and resting on shoulder 5 and serving asa container for the nested cups 6, and as a continuation of the housing 1. Within the housing are journaled two camdike devices 7, 7 for engaging and forcibly separating the cups from the .stack one by one. In the present and preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings by way of example, each device shown withallof its parts in the form of an integral cam, and these cams are adapted to normally support the stack of nested cups 6 which are arranged bottom up, and having flanges8 (see Fig. 5) and the cams are also adapted to forcibl separate the lowermost cup from the stac and eject it while supporting the rest of the stack by engagement with the next adjacent 00 cup.

The cams are duplicates one of the other, and are geared together to be synchronously rotated in opposite directions about their axes for dispensing the cups, preferably b means of mechanism hereinafter describe The normal position of the cams is that shown in Fig. 5. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the front cam 7 is secured eccentrically to a shaft 10 having one end journaled in a bracket or web 12 forming a part of the hous-' ing, and having its other end journaled in another wall or web- 13 also forming a part of the housing, and at this end of the shaft I provide a suitable pinion 14 throu h which the cam is operated, as hereinafter escribed. The rear cam 7 has one end of its shaft 15 likewise journaled in a bracket 16 and the other end of its shaft journaled in a bracket 17, the shaft at that end having a pinion 18 so mounted thereon for operating the cam. It will be observed from Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6 that the general outline of the camis cylindrical with the surfaces somewhat concaved longitudinall as at 19 so as to substantially fit the wal s of the cups adjacent their lips or flanges. 8, and that the cam is provided with a longitudinal groove 20 providing cup-engaging surfaces or shoulders 21, 22.

It will be observed in the present embodiment ofthe machine that the cam is so journaled with respect to the tubular container that the shoulder 21 is normally substantially horizontal and upon which the lowermost cup of the stack rests, as shown in Fig. 5. It will be further observedthat the groove 20 is so formed that the shoulder or surface 22 which forms, with the curved surface 23, a

frequently the case.

downward slightly until the flange of the next to the lowermost cup engages the curved surface 23 above the shoulder 22, which will then support the stack of cups. The cam will thus continue to support the stack of cups as it is swung downwardly and inwardly on its pivot toward the vertical axis of the stack, during which time the lowermost cup of the stack is completely released (as shown in Fig. 6) by the movement of the shoulder 21 away from the vertical line of movement of the cup, and during this downward movement of the cam the shoulder 22 of the cam engages against the upper surface of the flange of the lowermost cup while the curved surface 23 above the shoulder engages beneath the flange of the next adjacent cup to forcibly separate the lowermost cup from the stack in the event that it should tend to stick and not fall by gravity, as is The eccentricity of the cam increases the movement or throw of the nose, portion of the cam toward the axis of the stack of cups.

The character and degree of eccentricity of the cup supporting curved surface of the cam with respect to the swivel axis will be readilyseen by comparison of Figs. 2 and 3 showing, respectively, a view looking down on top of the cams and a view looking sideways at one of the cams, and the advantages of the eccentric arrangement will readily apear from comparison of Figs. 5 and 6 of the rawings showing the cams respectively in their normal and in their actuated positions. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the swivel or shaft axis is directly in vertical alignment with and below the axis of the cup supporting cylindrical surface of the cam, or in other words, the swivel center of the cam is directly below the center of the curved cam surface. The swivel center is indicated in Figs. 3 and 5 by the letters S. C. and the center of the curved surface is indicated by the letters C. C. It will be apparent from this eccentric arrangement that for a curved cup supporting surface of a given radius a greater throw of the nose portion of the cam is obtained, so that the shoulder 22 will get further in behind and engage the flange of the lower cup and force 'it down through a greater vertical distance while the next cup is held from corresponding movement by the curved surface 23. The

' advantage of this is apparent when we consider the fact that if this greater throw is sought to be obtained by simply enlarging the diameter of the cam or curved surface of the cam, it means that thenose portion of the cam in such case will, when in its normal position, stand higher up on the stack and hence it may when operated, engage above the rim of the second cup or bite into the rim of that cup instead of entering between the rims of the last two cups in order to dispense the cups with certainty one by one. It should also be observed that to further insure the nose of the cam entering in between these two rims or flanges, the shoulder 21 which normally supports the stack (see Fig. 5) is located higher up than the swivel center S. C. and even higher up than the curved center C. C. This has the effect of supporting the rim of the lower cup close up to the nose of the cam so as to further minimize any chance of the nose of the cam biting into the rim ofthe nextadjacent cup or above the same when the cam is actuated.

At the conclusion of the downward movement of the cam the parts are as shown in Fig. 6, after which the cam may be automatically returned to its normal position by any suitable means, the stack of cups in the meantime continuing to be supported by the surfaces 23 of the cams until the cams have been moved back into their normal position where the cups will be supported by the lower surface 21 of the groove 20 ready for a second operation; and so on.

I preferably provide a device for catching the ejected cup, such for example as a hook 24 secured to the housing in any suitable manner, as by a set screw 25, the free end of the hook being in alignment with the stack of cups so asto catch the ejected cup. This hook 24 also serves the additional purpose of preventing the stack of nested cups from being placed in the-machine so as to be fed bot tom downward. The cam mechanism as herein shown is capable of dispensing the cups whether they are arranged bottom up or bottom down, but the mechanism is designed to feed the cups from the stack arranged bottom up, and the hook 24 has its free end projecting up sufliciently close to the discharge opening 26 of the housing to strike the lowermost cup of the stack and hold it off of the cams if it is attempted to place the cups in the machine bottom down.

By forming the operating shoulders and surfaces of the cam in a single unitary structure and arranged in a common plane transverse to the axis of the cam shaft, and by making the supportingsurface 23 of general circular section eccentric to the cam shaft, I obtain a very reliable and smooth operating device for the purpose desired, and one which does not result in sudden jerky up and down movements or jars to the stack of cups which would tend to make the dispensing of the cups, one at a time, less certain, although if desired it will be understood that modifications may be made in the constructionof the cam parts.

The mechanism for synchronously actuating the cams is as follows: At one side of the housing 1 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) I provide a slide bar 27 having projections 28, 29, with teeth 30, 31 formed thereon geared,preferably by direct mesh, respectively with the gears 14 and 18. This slidebar is provided with a forwardly extending push rod 32 projecting out from the front of the housing 1 as shown in Fig. 1, and between the bar 27 and a shoulder 33 on the housing I provide a its movements by its upper surface slidingly engaging the wall 36 of the housing, and by its lower surface slidingly engaging the wall 37 of the housing; while the bar is held from lateral displacement due to its being confined between the adjacent wall 38 of the housing and a detachable cover plate 39 adapted to be secured to one side of the housing b suitable screws to enclose the slide bar. y un screwin this plate the actuating mechanism can rea ily be gotten at if necessary without disturbing any other parts of the machine. It will thus be seen that by a single slide bar havin only two racks which are geared directly wlth pinions on one end of the cam shafts, I am enabled to synchronously rotate or swing the cams in opposite directions. The arrangement is such that only four relatively movable elements are required in the entire machine for dispensing the cups, namely, the cams, the slide bar and the spring.

It will be understood from the above that if a cup is desired, the push rod 32 is simply pressed inwardly,-thus rotatin the cams to dispense the cup, as heretofore escribed, and that as soon as the pressure is released the push rod will be thrown back by the spring,

to bring the cams back to normal position, and so on.

The metal housing is preferably divided transversely into upper and lower portions 40, 41, the line of division occurring in the plane of the cam shafts so as to not only fa cilitate the molding of the housing, but to also facilitate the assembly of the parts. IVh'en the cams and their operating mechanism have been assembled in the lower part 41 of the housing, the two parts of the housing are then secured together in any suitable manner, such for example as by screws 42 engaging portions of the two parts of the housing, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, it being understood that there are a plurality of such securing screws. When the parts are thus secured together, the shafts are held firmly in their earin s, and plate 39 is at on.

Whi e I have describe my invention with particularity in connection with the present preferred embodiment thereof, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made in the arrangement and construction of the parts without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, and I aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a container for a stack of nested cups, and means for dispensing the cups one by one comprising a horizontally swiveled device positioned to rotate toward the vertical axis of the stack of cups and having a part for normally engaging the lowermost cup of the stack to support it, and having a downwardl facing shoulder and a co operating upwardly and rearwardly extending surface forming a cup-prying part adapted when the device is rotated, to enter between and engage the flange of said lower most cup and that of the next adjacent cup to support said latter cup and produce a. prying action to forcibly separate the lowermost cup therefrom, and throughsaid next adjacent cup to support the stack until the return of the first mentioned cup-supporting part.

2. In apparatus of the character described the combination of a container for a, stack of nested cups, and a plurality of horizontally swiveled cams positioned to rotate toward the vertical axis of the stack of cups, said cams each having a cup-prying portion adapted, when the cam is swung, to swing downwardly and inwardly toward said vertical axis, said prying portion comprising a part for engaging the lowermost cup of the stack and a 00- 11 operating surface engaging at this time the next succeeding cup of the stack, so as to forci bly separate said two cups, and said surface supporting the stack when the lowermost cup is released and until the cam is returned to its normal position.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a container for a stack of nested cups, a plurality of cams swiveled horizontally to rotate downwardly and inwardly 1 toward the vertical axis of the stack of cups, means-for swinging the cams back and forth about their pivots, each cam being of general circular section and having its surface concaved longitudinally of the axis of the cam, and having a longitudinal roove the lower longitudinal wall of which orms a shoulder for normally engaging the lowermost cup of the stack to support the stack, and the upgredge of which is adapted to be swung in J30 tween the flange of said lowermost cup and that of the next adjacent cup as the cam is rotated, the surface of the cam above said edge engaging said next cup to support the stack until the engagement of said last cup by the cam shoulder on its return movement.

4. In a device for dispensing cups from a stack of nested cups, the combination of a plurality of parts swiveled horizontally and arranged on opposite sides of the stacks of cups and positioned, normally when at rest, to support the stack of cups, and adapted when actuated, to release the cups, and a plurality of cup-prying parts located higher than said first parts and also swiveled horizontally and arranged on opposite sides of the stack of cups and positioned to rotate toward. the vertical axis of the stack of cups, adapted, when actuated, to be moved downwardly and inwardly toward the vertical axis of the stack and engage the bottom cup and at this time to also engage the next adjacentcup to produce a prying action to forcibly separate them while supporting the stack.

5. In a device for dispensing cups from a stack of nested cups, the combination of a plurality of devices swiveled horizontally and arranged on opposite sides of the stack of cups and positioned to rotate toward the vertical axisiof the stack of cups, said devices each having a part adapted, normally when at rest, to support the stack of cups, and above said part having cup-prying parts adapted, when actuated, to be moved downwardly and inwardly toward the vertical axis of the stack of cups, one of said last parts being adapted, when so actuated, to engage the bottom cup, and the other of'said parts being adapted, at this time to engage the next adjacent cup, so as to produce a prying action I to forcibly separate said two cups as the device is actuated, and support the cups above said bottom cup.

6. In a device for dispensing cups from a stack of nested cups, the combination of a device swiveled horizontally and positioned to rotate toward the vertical axis of the stack of cups, said device having a horizontally concaved shoulder adapted, normally when at rest, to support the stack of cups, and above said shoulder having a part also simi- .1arly concaved and adapted, when actuated,

to be moved downwardly and inwardly toward the vertical axis of the stack of cups, said last part having a lower portion adapt ed, when actuated, to engage the bottom cup, and having an upper surface curved upwardly and rearwardly from said last portion and adapted to engage the next adjacent cup, so as to forcibly separate said two cups and support the stack when the device is actuated.

7. In a device for dispensing cups from a stack of nested cups, the combination of a cam swiveled horizontally to rotate downwardly and inwardly toward the stack of cups, said cam having a nose portion, and from said nose having an upwardly and rearwardly extending convex surface, said nose portion and surface adapted, when the cam'is actuated, to move downwardly and inwardly toward the stack and enter between the rims of the lowermost and the next adjacent cups to respectively engage the same and forcibly separate the lowermost cup and support the stack, said cup-supporting convex surface being'eccentric to the swivel axis of the cam, the radial distance from the cup-supporting convex surface to said swivel axis being greater than the radius of said convex surface, whereby the nose portion is given a greater throw to separate the lowermost cup for a given radius of the convex surface.

8. In a device for dispensing cups from a stack of nested cups, the combination of a cam swiveled horizontally to rotate downwardly and inwardly toward the stack of cups, said cam having a shoulder adapted, normally when at rest, to enga e the rim of the lowermost cup of the stac: to support the stack, and also having a nose portion above said shoulder and from said nose portion having an upwardly and rearwardly extending convex surface, said nose portion and surface adapted, when the cam is actuated, to move downwardly and inwardly toward the axis of the stack and enter between the rims of the lowermost and next adjacent cups to respectively engage the same and forcibly separate the lowermost cup and support the stack, said cup-supporting convex surface being eccentric to the swivel axis of the cam, said swivel axis, when the cam is in normal position, being below the center of said convex surface, and the cup-supporting shoulder, when in normal position, being above said swivel axis, whereby greater certainty of the nose entering between successive cups and a greater throw of the nose against the lowermost cup is attained for a given radius of said convex surface.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a container for a stack of nested cups, horizontally swiveled devices arranged on opposite sides of the cups for engaging the cups to dispense them, and means for synchronously operating said devices comprising a unitary push bar slidingly ar ranged entirely at one side of the axis of said container and having an upper rack member geared to one of said'devices and a lower rack member geared to the other device, said rack members being respectively above and below the axes of said devices, and a spring for automatically returning said push bar to its normal position.

10. In a de'vice of the character described. the combination of a container for a stack of nested cups, a housing, a plurality of cam devices mounted in the housing for engaging the cups to dispense them, means for synchronously operatin said devices comprising a single push bar s idingly arran ed within the housing entirely at one sidet ereof, means operatively connecting said push bar with the cam devices for operating the latter, said ush bar and connecting means being arrange adjacent the side of the housing, and a detachable cover late closin that side of the housing,.where y the pus bar and connecting perts are made accessible by removal of the ate. p 11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a container for a stack of nested cups, a horizontally split housing below thecontainer, a plurality of horizontally swiveled cams for engaging the cups to dispense them, said cams being journaled in the housing substantially in the horizontal plane of division of the housing so as to be readily assembled,'means for synchronously operating said cams comprising a push bar, and means earing the same to the cams.

12. In a. evice of the character described, the combination of a container for a stack of nested cups, a cam swiveled horizontally to rotate downwardly and inwardly toward the vertical axis of the stack of cups, said cam having a longitudinal groove and a surface upwardly and rearwardly curved therefrom, the lower longitudinal wall of the groove forming a shoulder for normally engaging the flange of the lowermost cup of the stack to support the stack, and the upperedge of the groove and said curved surface being adapted to be moved in between the flange of said lowermost cup and that of the next adjacent cup to respectively engage said cup flanges as the cam is rotated to remove the supportmg shoulder, so as to forcibly separate said cups and support the stack, and means for actu-- ating said cam.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of a container for a stack of nested cups, a cam swiveled horizontally to rotate downwardly and inwardly toward the vertical axis of the stack of cups, said cam being of general circular cross section and having a cup-prying portion comprislng a shoulder adapted to swing downwardly upon the rim of the lowermost cup of the stack and. a smooth surface above said shoulder adapted to move beneath and engage the rim of the next cup of the series, so as to forcibly separate the lowermost cup from the stack and support the stack during the continuance of the forward movement of the cam, and means for actuating said cam.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination of a container for a stack of nested cups, a cam swiveled horizontally to rotate downwardly and inwardly toward the vertical axis of the stack of cups, said cam being of general circular cross section and eccentrically mounted, and having a portion adapted, when at rest, to support the stack, and cup-prying portions adapted when the cam is actuated, to enter between the flanges of the lowermost pair of cups and engage the same so as to forcibly separate the bottom cup from the stack and support the remaining cups, and means for actuating said cam.-

15. In a device of the character described, the combination of a container for a stack of nested cups, a pair of horizontall swiveled devices, mounted at opposite si es of the stack to be moved downwardlyand inwardly towards the vertical axis of the stack, said devices having portions adapted, when at rest, to support the stack, and having upper cup-prying portions comprising in each case a downwardly facing part to engage the lowermost cup and a surface extending upwardly and rearwardly from the level of said down wardly facing part to engage and support the next cup-adapted, when the devices are swung downwardly and inwardly, to enter between the flange of the lowermost cup and that of the next adjacent cup and engage said flanges separate the lowermost cup from the stack, and means for actuating said devices to dispense the cups.

' 16. In a device for dispensing cups one by one from a stack of nested cups the combination of a lurality of devices swiveled horizontally a out axes only slightly below the rim of the lowermost cup of said stack, said devices being arranged on opposite sides of the stack of cups and positioned to rotate toward the vertical axis of the stack of cups and each having a part adapted, normally when at rest, to support the stack of cups, and each having a cup-prying part adapted, when the devices are rotated, to enter between and engage the flange of said lowermost cup and that of the next adjacent cup to support said latter cup and produce a prying action to forcibly separate the lowermost cup therefrom, and through said next adjacent cup to support the stack until the return of the first mentioned cup-supporting part.

. 17. In a device for dispensing cups from a stack of nested cups, the combination of a cup-supporting and separating cam swiveled horizontally to rotate downwardly and inwardly toward the vertical axis of the stack of cups, said camhaving a part adapted, normally when at rest, to support the stack and to be moved from the stack to release a cup when the cam is actuated, said cam also having portions located above said part and adapted, when the cam is actuated, to be moved downwardly and inwardly toward the vertical axis of the stack of cups, said last portions comprising a cup-prying nose having an under portion which when actuated engages the lowermost cup, and an upper portion for engagin and simultaneously supporting the next a jacent cu the vertical distance between the nose and t e part of the scam normally supporting the stack being to provide forcible separation of the lowersuch as to insure the nose entering between .most cup without crushing adjacent cups the lowermost pair of cups when the nose is when the cam is swung inwardly toward the 10 swung toward the axis of the cups, and the axis of the stack.- 5 radius of the nose from its swivel axis being 'In testimony whereof, I have signed my sufficiently short and the length and contour name to this specification. of the upper surface of the nose being such as J AMES D. REIFSNYDER.

Y QER'liFICATE or CORRECTION.-

Patent No. a 1,703, 637. Granted February26, 1929, to

JAMES D. REIFSNYDER.

It is hereby certified'that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered, patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 52 after the word "device" insert the word "is"; page 4, line 10, claim 4 for the word stacks" read "stack"; page 5. line 90, claim 15, after the word F'Hanges" in :Fffitil; words "and forcibly"; and that the said Letters-Patent should be read 1 ese corrections't erein can in the Patentomcu that the same may conform to the record of the Signed and sealed this 28th day of May, A. D. 1929.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Gonnnissioner of Patents;

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,733,637. Granted February 26, 1929, to

7 JAMES D. REIFSNYDER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 52, after the Word "device" insert the word "is"; page 4, line 10, claim 4, for the word "stacks" read "stack"; page 5, line 90, claim 15, after the Word "flanges" insert the words "and forcibly"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of May, A. D. 1929.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) I Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

